This article is written by Rhiannon Osborne, a medical student and One Green Gov organiser.

We are facing the greatest challenge that humanity has ever been confronted with. Our current system is wreaking havoc on the earth’s climate and biodiversity, and the need for action has never been more urgent.

The science is unequivocally warning us of the dangers of ‘business as usual’ and the human impact of climate change is already being seen across the globe.

How did we arrive at this decisive cross-road? And how did we ever let the situation become so dire?

The explanations are numerous. Some argue that it’s partly human nature: we are hard-wired to focus on threats that are visible, well-known and simple. Climate change is anything but. Meanwhile, our political and economic systems incentivise short-term thinking and maximisation of immediate rewards. Again, this is at odds with the complex, multi-factorial issue of climate change, which has been aptly nicknamed the “policy problem from hell”.

We all have a part to play, big and small, in fighting climate change

We are now facing an immense task — under time pressure —  to avert the worst effects of climate change. But shying away from the challenge is not an option. Action on climate change is changing from an impossible dream to an inevitable reality. The question is if it will be done in time, and who should be doing it?

Introducing One Green Gov

This year, millions have taken to the streets to demand that governments take more action on the climate crisis. The scale of the challenge is unprecedented, and there is no doubt that urgent, drastic and radical action must be taken by governments, businesses and civil society to dramatically restructure our economy and society.

There are many big questions: How do we make the energy transition fair and equitable? How do we overcome division nationally and globally to act with the unity required for this challenge? How do we create a truly sustainable economy? How do we incentivise the innovation needed to reduce emission levels? How do we prevent climate change from fuelling inequality? We need policies that are up to the task.

That is why One Green Government has decided to run a global event on January 22, for the public sector and its allies, to catalyse action on the climate crisis. The day will be an inspiring congregation of experts, activists and enthusiastic public servants that results in the creation of ideas and discussion about the ways in which we can face up to the challenge before us.

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The good news is that while the climate crisis is a massive threat, it is also one of the greatest opportunities we have to create happier, healthier and more equitable lives for the billions of people who call this planet home. With the right policies, the public sector can play a vital role in building a world that lives in harmony with nature. We need to start talking about how to get there and get there quickly.

The best thing is: there is no need to be physically present at the conference. We are asking people to share their best ideas for combating the climate crisis. You can also follow the conference via Twitter, by following the One Team Government account or #OneGreenGov and via live feed.

We all have a part to play, big and small, in fighting climate change. If you want to help us push the government towards a greener course, here are the ways to get involved with this project:

  • If you’re attending the conference you can write an article for Apolitical. To register your interest now, simply follow this link, where you will be asked to write one sentence explaining your article idea.
  • Add your thoughts and ideas to the project outline here.
  • Take part in the discussion on twitter, and share your best tip for what public servants can do to tackle the climate crisis.
  • You can also follow the conference via the live feed here, which will be live from 9am GMT.

We want to ensure that everyone will get a chance to contribute to what we hope will be a set of impactful and useful resources for public sector workers across the globe. — Rhiannon Osborne

(Picture credit: Unsplash)